Tag Archives: tgif

Apr14

Sarah & Lea’s Eggcelent Adventure

Posted on by
Standard
Sarah & Lea’s Eggcelent Adventure

Hi everyone and TGIF! Yesterday was a HELLUVA day because someone t-boned the Little Red Love Machine, making this my second accident in four months that I’ve been in that was far from my fault. With twenty-five hundred dollars worth of damage to my car thanks to someone disregarding a stop sign, I was left feeling stressed, depressed, well dressed, and pissed off! BUT, thanks to a boozy BFF evening and carrying out a long time friendship tradition, I was left feeling infinitely better.

My best friend, Lea, and I are going on about ten years of friendship and in high school we began a tradition of coloring Easter eggs together every year. Last night just so happened to be our egg dying eggstravaganza, which was so needed after my car trauma earlier in the day. We had a dozen blown out eggs, two bottles of wine, and excellent company considering that Lea’s family is basically like my second family.

We created some crazy cool tie-dye eggs, which we learned how to do from a Facebook video that Lea’s mom showed us. Take a look at our finished product and then I’ll tell you how it’s done:

Caution: Your hands will get messy!

You Will Need:

  • EGGS. Either blown out or hard boiled (but don’t expect to eat the eggs if you use hard boiled because shaving cream)
  • Shaving cream
  • Plastic containers or something similar
  • Food coloring
  • Cooling rack
  • Paper towel

How To Guide:

  1. Take your containers and coat them with a healthy layer of shaving cream. Make sure that you spread it evenly.
  2. Choose two or more food dye colors and add them to your shaving cream. Then, use a knife and blend the colors. You can make as many color combinations as you want!
  3. Take an egg and then cover it with the colored shaving cream.
  4. Place your eggs on a cooling rack and let them sit for twenty minutes.
  5. After the color has set, take your paper towel and wipe the shaving cream away very gently!
  6. Clean up your work space and enjoy your new tie-dyed eggs!

Lea and I had SO much fun creating our shaving cream colored eggs. We had lots of wine, lots of laughs, and we will definitely remember this year’s eggstravaganza for many years to come! Of course, a best friend hangout wouldn’t be complete without some pictures so here we are looking mighty cute! Also featuring her twin brother, BILL!

lealea1lea2

^^^ I LOVE US! And the second picture is one of my favorite ones ever, even though Lea doesn’t like it! Her brother was making us laugh when he was taking our pictures and obviously Lea was holding it together better than me!

So there you have it, Sarah & Lea’s Eggcelent Adventure! Who has traditions with their best friends? What is your preferred egg dying method? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar31

New Purple & Black Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Purple & Black Nails

Hi everyone and TGIF! Yesterday was super fabulous because when I went to get my beloved talons filled, I was pleasantly surprised to see VINNY at the salon. For those of you who don’t know, Vinny was my former nail tech who unfortunately works at a salon that is over an hour away now. Sweet Vinny was helping out for the day and although he couldn’t do my nails, he took me out to a delicious, boozy dinner after he was done at the salon. It was basically the best day of my life and I was so happy to finally be able to spend some much needed quality time with one of my favorite people on the planet.

Despite Vinny not taking care of my nails, they still look fabulous – compliments of STEVE! I am freaking obsessed with the OPI shimmery purple shade for my accent nail and legit can’t stop looking at my freshly filled claws. Check it out:

nails5

I’ve grown increasingly fond of all things sparkly as of late for my accent nail and can’t get enough of my latest color choice. I pointed out to Steve how this OPI shade doesn’t look like it just has a teaspoon of glitter thrown into it, which I liked. He then explained to me that OPI uses ground up crystals in their polish to give it that gorgeous shimmer and I think that that’s the coolest thing ever! I definitely plan on using more of their OPI shades in the future so that my accent nails can achieve that extra touch of glitz that isn’t obnoxious.

Super special shout out to my favorite nail techies, Vinny, Steve, and the darling Tina (Steve’s wife)! I freaking love you guys! ❤

I hope everyone has a fabulous Friday and a super fun weekend. What accent nail color should I get next? What color of polish do you have on currently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar24

Creep

Posted on by
Standard
Creep

Okay, let’s all be honest here. We’ve all social media creeped before. Whether it’s on your ex’s new girlfriend or one of your coworkers, social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have given us free range to snoop to our heart’s content. My girlfriends and I have had many a conversation about our in depth creeping sessions and it always provides us with a laugh fest or heart wrenching girl talks about our findings. But what happens when you feel a little too creeped out by someone’s Facebook creeping?

So, on Wednesday my dad and I went to Dairy Queen to get an ice cream cake for my mom’s birthday. The same Dairy Queen that my best friend worked at well over a year ago. It’s not somewhere that I actively frequent except for the handful of times that I’ve stopped in to see her or went with her to pick up her paychecks. And by a handful of times, I mean like three. My dad and I chose the cake that we wanted and probably exchanged a total of twenty words with the employee who was helping us.

Frankly, I was not trying to socialize with anyone because I was totally bumming it that day. Leggings, hoodie, no makeup, and a beanie was my outfit of choice. All I wanted was to get the cake and go and within five minutes we were in and out. BUT, despite my disheveled outer appearance, I could feel the employee looking at me just a little too closely for my liking. Especially since I was basically in my pajamas. Whatever. We left and I didn’t think anything of it until twenty minutes ago.

Today while I was hanging out, I saw that I had a notification from Facebook messenger and it was a message request. Normally, I don’t look through those but I knew the red message circle wouldn’t disappear if I didn’t so I took a peek. And, guess who it was from? None other than the Dairy Queen employee from two days ago with a message reading “I hope you enjoyed the cake. Facebook creeping at its finest.” Ugh. What?

Don’t get me wrong. I am well aware that I am an easily recognizable person. With bright red hair, pasty pale skin, and five nose piercings it’s hard not to be. But really? You’re going to use the five words that I exchanged with you at your place of employment as an excuse to hunt me down on Facebook and shoot me a message? That’s just so unprofessional, inappropriate, and (to be frank) weird in my opinion.

Believe me. I am used to the odd messages, emails, and comments. And I get that I am recognizable enough and somewhat relevant enough on social media to get unwanted attention in my inboxes. But, I don’t know. There was something about this experience that made me feel weird because the person is in such close proximity to me and because our exchange was so incredibly brief.

I’ve never had anyone actively try and find me on social media like that and I didn’t like it. Am I looking too much into this? Probably. But I still have such an initial grimy feeling that I just had to blog it out. I am not trying to put anyone “on blast”, I’m just trying to not feel weird about this! Is it ever appropriate to try and find someone you met while on the job? How would you react to this situation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

(And, as always, I have no rights to this video, song, or featured image photo!)

Mar24

Essential Bedroom Comforts

Posted on by
Standard
Essential Bedroom Comforts

We spend hours of our lives in our bedroom every single day. Fair enough, we’re not conscious for most of that time, BUT we’re still in there! So while we might not notice what photos are on the wall or what color the carpet is, we do notice how comfortable we are. From the softness of the sheets to the firmness of the mattress, our bedroom comforts aren’t completely ignored when we’re in the land of nod. But the room should also be perfect for hanging out before bed – it seems wasteful to have an entire room solely dedicated to your unconsciousness. Here’s some ideas to help you make your room as comfy cozy as possible whether you’re awake or not:

Guarantee A Great Night’s Sleep:

First things first, comfort is primarily to aid relaxation. What’s the ultimate sign that you’re relaxed? You fall asleep, of course! The key to an amazing night’s sleep is a ridiculously comfortable bed. The mattress has to be perfect for you – not too hard and not too soft. If you’re not a great sleeper, chances are your mattress isn’t right for you – check out some guides to a great mattress and find one which will work best. Secondly, you’ve got to have good sheets. Your bed should feel like a cocoon of cozy happiness. Bad quality sheets do not make a cocoon of cozy happiness. Go for the highest thread count you can afford – you’ll never look back before you drift off to sleepy bliss.

When it comes to shopping for a new bed to improve your quality of sleep, do not be afraid to shop around. You are going to be sleeping on it for the foreseeable future! It can be helpful to look at online reviews first so you don’t end up on a wild goose chase for the perfect bed. You might find that the right choice for you is as simple as a click here to check out some well reviewed, classic, and comfortable bedding options.

Get The Temperature Right:

Everyone knows the pain of trying to sleep in a room which is far too hot or far too chilly – it’s basically impossible until you pass out from exhaustion. Being able to get the temperature right is essential for comfort. A smart thermostat is the solution. Being able to keep the room warmer in the daytime for when you’re kicking back and relaxing, but turning it down at bedtime to an almost-chilly but completely optimum 65 degrees is sure to guarantee you the perfect relaxation environment. And a smart thermostat also ensures that you will wake up to a cozy bedroom, meaning no more cowering in bed after the alarm goes off… Well, you still might because snooze alarm.

Add Somewhere To Sit:

If you enjoy flicking through a magazine before bed, getting lost in your favorite novel, or just scrolling through Twitter, why not include somewhere specific to do that? Many people find that spending time in bed awake and doing things can cause them to get neck or lower back pain, or it makes their bed too warm before it’s time to sleep. A cozy armchair, complete with fluffy blanket, is ideal for some pre-bed wind-down time.

Include Some Fluff (or lots!):

Speaking of a fluffy blanket, every bedroom needs some fluff. Getting out of bed onto a faux sheepskin rug is the ultimate in cozy luxury. A fluffy blanket in the winter is ideal for cuddling up in and fluffy cushions just add a really cute new texture to the room’s decor. Every bedroom needs at least a few soft and cushy items to snuggle up in. If you’re lucky enough to have a pet, you’ve got your ready-made fluffy thing (with added heat, too!) but the rest of us have to make do with a luxurious fluffy/faux fur-y/fuzzy blanket.

Bedroom comforts are all about filling the room with things that feel good to the touch, but that also make you happy. It’s a room in which happiness and relaxation are fundamental, so don’t skimp. Now go and catch some Zs!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar24

The Blue Sky Tag

Posted on by
Standard
The Blue Sky Tag

Hiii everyone and TGIF! Earlier this week I was so happy to be nominated for The Blue Sky Tag by my friend Megan over at Megan Elizabeth Lifestyle. Over the years, lifewithlilred has been nominated for lots of awards and tags, but never this one so I am really excited! Everyone please make sure to check out Megan’s wonderful page and give it some love – I’m sure that all of you will enjoy it as much as I do. Now, let’s take a look at the rules:

The Rules:

  • Answer 11 questions given to you
  • Tag 11 people
  • Give 11 questions

Q & A:

Onesie or Dressing Gown?

Definitely a nightie or a cute matching pajama pants and top set. I’m so obsessed with PJs as of late but I will never EVER wear a onesie – I personally think that they’re a bit ridiculous!

Bath or Shower?

For practicality purposes a shower but if I want to relax and have some me time, then a nice warm bubble bath.

What song are you currently obsessed with? (Mine is Green Light by Lorde)

Uhmmmm…. I’ve fallen into an unfortunate pop punk circa my high school years phase and am loving the album Underdog Alma Mater by Forever The Sickest Kids. Particularly “My Worst Nightmare”.

If you could have any chocolate bar in the world what would it be?

Trader Joe’s has this AMAZING dark chocolate bar that has chili powder and pop rocks in it and I freaking love it. I could totally eat like ten of them lol.

You’re having dinner with a historical figure, who would it be?

Hmm… I’m not sure. Does Johnny Depp count? haha

Why do you like blogging?

I love to blog because of all of the amazing friends that I have made all over the world. Blogging has put me in touch with people who I don’t think I would have met otherwise and I am so thankful for that.

What is your favorite blog to read at the moment?

Too many to count!

Cozy night in or wild night out?

I like both. Like, last night one of my girlfriends came over and we just drank some wine and watched Wentworth and it was a blast. But I do love going out to the bars with my friends when I’m feeling saucy.

Where do you dream of visiting and why?

Europe! Specifically Paris so that I can perfect my French!

What is your go-to choice for brunch?

It depends on what I’m in the mood for. If I want breakfast food, then definitely some type of fritatta and hashbrowns. But if I want lunch, then I usually go for some type of vegetarian friendly sandwich or a grilled cheese.

In your opinion, what is the best sitcom? (Friends, I’m not biased or anything!)

Seinfeld, of course!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions:

  1. What is your favorite topic to write about?
  2. What was your high school experience like?
  3. What was your favorite toy as a child?
  4. Heels or flats?
  5. Which beauty product could you not like without?
  6. What is your favorite thing to do when you have free time?
  7. Texting or phone calls?
  8. What is your favorite restaurant to eat at?
  9. What is one of your goals for this year?
  10. What qualities do you look for in a friend?
  11. What would you and your crush or significant other do on a dream date?

Thank you so much again to Megan for nominating little old me for The Blue Sky Tag! How would you answer some of the questions that Megan asked her nominees? How about some of mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Spring Is At The Door. Are You Ready?

Posted on by
Standard
Spring Is At The Door. Are You Ready?

Spring is nearly here! If you believe the calendar, spring should be with us by the 20th of March. In truth, it has already started in some areas. And unfortunately for some, they might have to wait until April. But you can definitely safely say that spring is on the way. Forget the cold and the snow of the past winter, the sun is coming back and the flowers are starting to bloom. Nature is finally taking over, the birds are singing again and skirts are getting shorter. There is no doubt about it: The nation is getting ready to welcome spring. Best of all, you can already find some yummy chocolate eggs in the shops, so this is another good reason to eagerly await the changing of the seasons. But are you ready for it?

Spring Cleaning:

What is spring without the unavoidable spring cleaning? Some might say that it could be a lot nicer not to have to clean the house from bottom to top, but let’s be honest: It’s part of a good home maintenance practice. Start by decluttering your home from everything that you have accumulated throughout the winter and that you don’t need any longer. Whether you decide to throw unneeded items away, sell, or give to charities is your own decision. But you will see clearer once the unnecessary items are out of the way. Then, you can start washing and cleaning in depth every room and every piece of decor and furniture. This also includes your carpets. If you knew what a welcoming terrain dirty carpets make for dust mites and other unexpected guests, you’d probably wash it more often, too!

Spring Starts Outside:

But in truth, spring begins outside your house. You should be gathering new ideas for your garden to capture the essence of spring in your backyard. Whether you are looking to give a new character to your outdoors with customized decking or by building a barbecue area, it’s important to start with the basics. Clear your garden from any weeds and other dirt that has accumulated over the winter. This will help you to reevaluate the space and maybe bring some exciting landscaping changes. Get creative and your backyard will be the talk of the town in no time.

Get Your Spring Wardrobe:

Last, but certainly not least, is your closet. It’s time to remove those thick knits for a lighter spring wardrobe. You will be delighted to know that this year, the spring fashion is set on practicality and neutral colors. The denim jacket is making a comeback, as well as nude and powder rose color schemes for shoes and accessories. And remember to maximize your basic white tee for the season: It’s an essential of your warm weather wardrobe. If it’s too cool to wear a t-shirt only, throw a military jacket on top. It will keep you warm and trendy! Fashion this season is promoting classic and simple lines: A modern silhouette under the sun. What is there not to love?

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar10

It’s In The Bag – Embroidered Beauty Edition

Posted on by
Standard
It’s In The Bag – Embroidered Beauty Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of It’s In The Bag! It’s been a while since I purchased a new purse and it hasn’t exactly been a priority of mine to get a new one until my latest online buy. My newest bag is from Imoshion and all of their products are made from PETA approved vegan materials which is very important to me. My Embroidered Beauty purse was unintentionally introduced to me by my mom who was showing me an outfit that she thought was cute in Redbook magazine. The outfit was fine but my eyes went straight to the accessories. A gorgeous dusty teal, floral embroidered, fringed purse better known as Imoshion’s Bertie style bag. Take a look:

bertiebertie1bertie2

^^^ SO. PRETTY!

Like all things in my wardrobe from clothing and shoes to accessories is that when I see something, I know right away if I like it or not. If I don’t like the item, I won’t even give it a second glance. However, if it falls into the like category, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance that the heels, hat, or bangle bracelets are going home with me. This beautiful bag definitely fell into the more than like category because I freaking loved it.

What sold me initially on the bag was actually the color. I have another purse that is a similar shade to my Bertie bag and it is one of my favorites. You would be amazed at how difficult it is to find a purse in that hue so when I first saw it, I was instantly drawn to it. The amazing embroidery, fringe, and somewhat bucket style shape was just a nice afterthought. The fifty dollar price tag was also something that I considered really reasonable and the free shipping was a great added bonus.

It took a little over a week for my bag to arrive all the way from LA to little old Akron, Ohio and the anticipation was freaking killing me! So, needless to say, when my package from Imoshion arrived yesterday, I was over the moon. I was really impressed with the care that they took to pack the bag safely in the box. It was kept inside a laundry style bag and tucked inside hot pink tissue paper and bubble wrap which made me happy. There’s nothing that I hate more than when a company does a poor job on shipping their products so Imoshion definitely gets an A+ in that regard.

So the shipping was great but the beautiful bag that was hidden beneath the paper and bubble wrap was simply divine. The quality of the purse was so high and it was just beautiful to look at. The suede was soft, the embroidered flowers were vibrant, and the teal shade of the bag was even more amazing in person. As soon as I walked in the door with the package, I was already dumping out everything in the purse that I was using to transfer into my new bag. I am SO excited to have such a stunning accessory hanging from my hip and I am prepared to recommend the Imoshion website to everyone who compliments it. I would without a doubt shop with them again and their Bertie bag is truly the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

So there you have it, the latest issue of It’s In The Bag: Embroidered Beauty Edition! What is your favorite store to shop at for accessories? What does your favorite purse look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar3

A Cure For Wellness

Posted on by
Standard
A Cure For Wellness

Hi everyone and TGIF! Last night, I went to the movies with my sister and her boyfriend, truly living up to the permanent third wheel status. Kristen, Ramon, and I went to see A Cure For Wellness and it was alright! Ramon told me that he heard it described as a combination of American Horror Story: Asylum and Shutter Island and I think that that was right on the money. I can’t say that it was my favorite movie I’ve ever seen in my life but I’m glad that I saw it. However, I would have much preferred to see Get Out, instead! Hopefully that will happen soon because I’d love to see it in theaters.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers because the movie is still brand new but it really did leave me scratching my head. I do like when movies are thought provoking and ambiguous because I love nothing more than discussing film and TV show theories with my friends. I mean, I know what I took away from the plot points that they seemed to leave up to interpretation and, I hate to brag, but I’m pretty sure my theory is close to what they were trying to tell us without actually telling us.

So, that was vague. But what I will say is that I thought that the acting was very well done. Dane DeHaan who played the leading character and ambitious Lockhart was superb and he was very easy on the eyes! All of the actors seemed to work really well with each other and it was fun discussing afterwards who we felt was good, bad, or could have done more at the questionable sanitarium where the film took place.

A Cure For Wellness isn’t a movie that I plan on watching multiple times when it comes out on video but I would like to watch it once more to pick up on things that I might have missed yesterday. Despite its poor Rotten Tomatoes rating, I still enjoyed my evening at the movie theater especially since I didn’t pay a dime for my ticket and popcorn. The Regal Theaters reward card is basically the best thing that has ever happened to me. As an avid lover of going to the movies, it is nice to actually get tangible and useful rewards like sixteen dollars worth of free swag yesterday night. And if free movies, popcorn, and beverages aren’t your deal, you can always go to their online store where you can spend your points on movie merchandise!

After A Cure For Wellness has been out for a couple more weeks, I’ll post what my general conclusion from the film was. But, until then, it is open for discussion in my comments section. What was your takeaway from the film? What were some parts that left you pondering? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

^^^ I have no rights to this trailer, which is compliments of 20th Century Fox.

Possible Spoiler Alert in the comments section!!

Featured Image By: Slash Film

Mar3

External Options To Make Your Home Look Great

Posted on by
Standard
External Options To Make Your Home Look Great

Everyone always seems to focus on the inside of their home. This is of course fair enough, as the bedroom is where you sleep in and the living room is where you essentially live. But a lot can be said for making the outside look appealing, too. First, it makes you feel good in the knowledge that it looks nice, yet also because spring is soon approaching and as a result you’ll be spending more time outside. There are many ways to make your house look better, so here are a few ideas to get you started:

House Facades: The exterior of your home could always benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Or consider changing the boarding to something more appealing. The facade is what gives your home character and is the first thing people see when they come to you. You can also consider the roof. Sometimes roofs can become slightly damaged or faded over the year due to the sun and the elements. This can be sorted out. You can find a roofing company to do it for you. They can make the change needed to give your home that extra look of professionalism. Not only that, but a damaged roof can mean escaping heat, which costs you money. Rain can also get in, causing wood to rot and damp to spread which can make your family ill as well as cause a lot of additional damage on the inside of your home.

Extension: Why not go all out and get some construction work done on your home. It is expensive, sure. But by extending your property, your home will not only look better, but you’ll also have a nicer place to live. You can see this as an investment because the money you spend will be recouped if you sell the house as the work will increase the home’s value. It can range from anything, too. A small porch at the front of your home to make more room inside to a full top and bottom extension that is sure to look amazing. You could even do something like convert a garage into another sitting room or even a games room. The possibilities are endless and if you decide to go through with it you’ll be adding a lot of extra appeal to your home.

Go For The Garden: Plant now and they will bloom in spring and summer, making your garden look totally amazing and vibrant with life and color. You can really make a difference by doing this the right way. If you plant different plants, they will bloom at different times meaning the garden will be colorful all year around. You should also consider additions like carved sculptures or stone statues to make it look even more like an outdoor wonderland. Hang things off the walls of your house and use ornaments to really bring the garden to life. You can personalize them and make them pertinent to you and your family, your hobbies, or your pets!

Featured Image By: Verani

Feb17

New Nails!

Posted on by
Standard
New Nails!

Hey everyone and TGIF! As you guys know if you follow my stiletto nail saga, I have a wonderful relationship with Vinny, my nail tech. He is such a fantastic friend and a nail wizard but, unfortunately, is now working at a salon closer to his home but way far away for me. I wouldn’t have minded continuing to go to the salon that he worked at previously but I was never happy with how the other technicians working there did my nails when Vinny couldn’t. So, I began the hunt for a new salon to go to.

I searched through Google, asked for recommendations from friends, and turned to Facebook which helped me settle on a salon that’s a whopping two minutes away from my house, LT Nails. For the most part, the salon had excellent reviews and their prices were fair so I figured that I would give it a shot. I’ve been itching to get new nails for a while now as I’ve had the same set since the beginning of November so the technician at LT hooked me up with these little beauties:

new7.jpeg

Now, wait, something appears to be missing…My middle finger crosses perhaps? Yeah. I honestly wasn’t sure if the salon even had airbrushing because it wasn’t advertised on their price menu and also the lady who did my nails kind of scared me. But, that’s no big deal, I’ll snag some nail art pens or something elsewhere and draw the crosses on myself because how hard can it be?!

Anyways, I’m really happy with how my nails turned out, especially because they’re longer than the old set that I had taken off. I wanted them long enough for them to still feel like talons but short enough to be functional and I think that this was a good in between length. But, I am secretly looking forward to them growing out a little!

The one thing that I wasn’t too thrilled about at LT asides from my fingers getting stabbed quite a few times was that they charged five dollars extra for all services involving long nails. I mean, okay, I get it because they do take more time but I had never been to a salon or even heard of one doing that before which was a little annoying. So, now I’m on the great debate of continuing to go to LT when I need a fill or going to my old salon to see if a tech that I haven’t been to before could potentially do a good job. Oh, what a tangled web we weave!!

But, regardless, my new nails still look really good which is all that matters, I guess! Who else likes to sport stiletto nails? What is one of your favorite nail polish colors to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah